It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years, but Halloween marks the 10th anniversary of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, the restaurant that started the five-restaurant empire for Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman. To celebrate, they’re throwing a big party with some mighty fine culinary company from Memphis and around the country.

Pete & Sam’s celebrates its 70th anniversary this year in a spiffed up restaurant, thanks to the Bomarito brothers taking on local investor partners and a late 2017 fire that caused the place to close for almost five months for cleaning and updating.

LYFE Kitchen at Chisca on Main Street Downtown has closed permanently, and Memphis-based Carlisle Corp. has sold the healthful dining brand to franchisee L3 Hospitality Group in Chicago.

It’s worth a little trouble to turn out a good cocktail. The Burnt Caipirinha at Alchemy requires a bit of prep ahead of time, but after you’ve made an oleo-saccharum and grilled your lemons, well, then there’s nothing to it.

The opening of Porch & Parlor in the former Bar Louie spot in Overton Square has been pushed back a bit, from late 2018 to early 2019.

In 1948, Sam Bomarito was back from the war, settled back in his hometown and had about $3,000 to put in a business. His cousin, Pete Romeo from Chicago, had about the same. They teamed up and opened Pete & Sam’s, but Pete wasn’t long for a sleepy river town.

The Memphis episode of Food Network’s “Big Food Truck Tip” aired Wednesday night and viewers found out which of the three featured food trucks received a $10,000 surprise in the tip jar. 

Some folks can whip up a cake on a whim, but I don’t have a baker’s touch. It’s a production for me, something that requires following a recipe, hauling out a mixer and cleaning up a mess.